UNFF COUNTRY-LED INITIATIVE

Lessons Learned in Monitoring, Assessment and Reporting on Implementation of IPF/IFF Proposals for Action

17-20 March 2003, Viterbo, Italy

Linkages Home

Sustainable Developments

Daily coverage:

[Tuesday] [Wednesday] [Thursday]

Monday, 17 March

The UNFF country-led initiative opened Monday morning at the University of Tuscia in Viterbo, Italy. Bringing together 100 participants from 51 countries, representing governments, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, the meeting started its work on lessons learned in monitoring, assessment and reporting (MAR) on the implementation of Intergovernmental Panel of Forests (IPF) and Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) proposals for action, particularly in relation to combating deforestation and forest degradation. Professor Marco Mancini, the Rector of the University of Tuscia, officially opened the meeting by welcoming delegates to Viterbo's historical university. He was followed by several speakers, including Giuseppe di Croce, Director-General of Italy's Corpo Forestale; Professor Erudo Giordano and Stefano Grego from the University of Tuscia; Hosny El-Lakany, Assistant Director-General of FAO's Forestry Department; and Pekka Petosaari from the UNFF Secretariat.

Following opening statements, delegates met in an afternoon session, chaired by Stephanie Caswell (US), to discuss country experiences with monitoring and assessing implementation of IPF/IFF proposals for action in relation to combating deforestation and forest degradation. Mike Dudley of the UK Forestry Commission outlined the meeting's agenda and objectives, followed by a panel of four experts from Brazil, Sweden, Turkey and the FAO.

After lunch, delegates divided into three working groups to discuss current approaches to monitoring and implementation of the proposals for actions (PFAs) and which are the most helpful. Recommendations and conclusions of the working groups will be tabled in the final plenary session and then forwarded to the UNFF for consideration.

Mike Dudley (left) with
Co-Chair Stephanie Caswell

 Stefano Grego, University of    Tuscia

Mike Dudley, UK, outlines the meeting's agenda and objectives (Listen to the RealAudio).

Listen to the opening remarks by Giuseppe Di Croce, Director General, Corpo Forestale, Italy, here

Listen to Stefano Grego, Pro-rector, University of Tuscia

Panelists discuss their countries' experience with monitoring and assessing implementation of IPF/IFF Proposals for Action.

Listen to Tasso Resende de Azevedo, Brazil

Listen to Linda Hedlund, Sweden

Listen to Peter Holmgren, FAO

 Pekka Patosaari, UNFF Secretariat (right) with the representative of Kenya

 An inner courtyard, University of Tuscia

 Assistant Director-General of the FAO Forestry Department Hosny El-Lakany

 Jan McAlpine, US (right) with Mike Fullerton, Canada

Listen to Hosny El-Lakany's remarks from the opening ceremony (here)

Working Group II Chair Linda Mossop, South Africa, reports back to the Plenary (Listen to the RealAudio)

Working Group III Chair Jan McAlpine, US, reports back to the Plenary (Listen to the RealAudio)

From left: Marco Mancini, Rector, University of Tuscia, Stephanie Caswell, US, and Paolo Vicentini, Ministry of Agriculture, Italy

Related Links: